monte
Monte (noun) means a gambling card game in which several cards are dealt face-up and players bet on which will be the next to match a card already turned. Example: “The men gathered around a table in the back room, playing monte for small stakes.”
How to use monte
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither a betting card game or, in some regional English, wild wooded country.
Don't confuse with "Monte" as part of a place name (Montenegro, Monterey) — those are unrelated proper-noun uses, not the common noun.
Word forms
montes plural, Montes plural
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The men gathered around a table in the back room, playing _____ for small stakes.
Etymology
From Spanish monte ("mountain"); the card-game sense comes from the pile of undealt cards, pictured as a little "mountain" on the table. Related to "mount."
Synonyms
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Rhymes for monte
See all rhymes for monte →Frequently asked questions
What does “monte” mean?
The word “monte” means a gambling card game in which several cards are dealt face-up and players bet on which will be the next to match a card already turned. In plain terms, either a betting card game or, in some regional English, wild wooded country.
How do you pronounce “monte”?
“Monte” is pronounced MON-tee (/ˈmɒnti/ in IPA).
How do you use “monte” in a sentence?
Here is “monte” used in a sentence: “The men gathered around a table in the back room, playing monte for small stakes.”
What part of speech is “monte”?
“Monte” is a noun.
Where does the word “monte” come from?
The word “monte” comes from Spanish. From Spanish monte ("mountain"); the card-game sense comes from the pile of undealt cards, pictured as a little "mountain" on the table. Related to "mount.".
Is “monte” a common word?
“Monte” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “monte” have?
“Monte” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a gambling card game in which several cards are dealt face-up and players bet on which will be the next to match a card already turned.
What is the difference between monte and three-card monte?
Monte on its own refers to a gambling card game in which several cards are dealt face-up and players bet on which will next match a card already turned, while three-card monte is a well-known variant, often associated with street scams using only three cards.
What does monte mean when referring to land?
Aside from the card game, monte can refer to a stretch of wooded or scrubby land, describing rough timber country rather than anything related to gambling.
Is monte an English word or borrowed from another language?
Monte is a Spanish-derived term, and both of its meanings, the card game and the term for rough wooded land, reflect its origins in Spanish, where monte broadly relates to mountains or wild terrain.
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